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Passage One
Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.
A study of nearly 140,000 women in the U. S. showed that regular helpings of a small portion of nuts can have a powerful protective effect against a disease that is threatening to become a global epidemic. Women who consumed a 28 gram packet of walnuts at least twice a week were 24 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who rarely or never ate them. Eating walnuts just two or three times a week can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by almost a quarter.
The latest findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, are not the first to highlight the anti-diabetic effects of walnuts, with earlier research showing similar benefits. However, this is thought to be one of the largest studies to fmd regularly snarling on them can help prevent the condition. Although the latest research was carried out on female nurses, it's likely that the same benefits apply to men.
According to the charity Diabetes UK, at the current rate of increase, the numbers affected by type 2 diabetes in the UK will rise from around 2.5 million currently to four million by 2025 and five million by 2030. Left untreated, it can raise the risk of heart attacks, blindness and amputation (截肢). Being overweight, physically inactive and having a poor diet are major risk factors for the disease.
Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, U. S. , tracked 137,893 nurses aged from 35 to 77 over a ten year period to see how many developed type 2 diabetes. Their dietary habits were closely monitored, including details on how often they ate nuts, particularly walnuts. After allowing for body fat and weight, the researchers found eating walnuts one to three times a month reduced the risk by four per cent, once a week by 13 per cent and at least twice a week by 24 per cent.
In a report on the findings the researchers said: "These results suggest higher walnut consumption is associated with a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women: " Walnuts are rich in healthy fatty acids(脂肪酸)which have been shown to reduce inflammation (炎癥) in the body and protect against heart disease, cancer and arthritis(關(guān)節(jié)炎). Last year, experts at the University of California Los Angeles also found young men in their twenties and thirties who ate walnuts every day increased their sperm count and boosted their fertility.
The research comes just after a Louisiana State University study which showed that eating nuts can reduce people's risk of obesity. The study found that those who consumed varieties such as almonds and pistachios(開心果) demonstrated a lower body weight, body mass index ( BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers. They were also at lower risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
56. According to the passage, what does "a global epidemic" ( Line 3, Para. 1 ) refer to?
A) A disease.
B) Type 2 diabetes.
C) Cancer.
D) Obesity.
57. According to the passage, the research published in the Journal of Nutrition
A) was carried out on male nurses.
B) is considered as the largest study of walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.
C) emphasizes walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.
D) is the first study of walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.
58. Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A) The number of diabetes patients in the UK will double by 2025.
B) Type 2 diabetes is mainly triggered by childhood overweight.
C) Diet and exercise may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
D) Type 2 diabetes will cause a significant increase of weight.
59. Which of the following is TRUE about the 137,893 nurses tracked by scientists at the Harvard?
A) Most of them are female.
B) Their eating habits were closely inspected for over ten years.
C) Their age is ranging from 35 to 77 years old.
D) They have about the same body fat and weight.
60. It has been proved that eating nuts can
A) lower people's body weight, BMI and waist circumference
B) reduce inflammation in the body
C) lower people's risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis
D) increase young men's sperm count and boost their fertility
Passage Two
Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.
There is plenty of complaints about how social media--texting in particular--may be harming children's social and intellectual development. But a new study suggests that constant instant messaging (IM'ing)and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted( 內(nèi)向的).
British researchers studied instant messages exchanged by 231 teens, aged 14 to 18. All of the participants were "regular" or "extensive" IM'ers. In the U. S., two thirds of teens use instant messaging services regularly, with a full third messaging at least once every day.
The researchers analyzed 150 conversations in the study, and reported the results in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM'ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness, distress or anger. The rest were conversations begun when the participant was feeling good or neutral. After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their distress--not enough to completely eliminate it, but enough to leave them feeling better than they had before reaching out.
"Our findings suggest that IM'ing between distressed adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to their well-being," the authors write, noting that prior research has shown that people assigned to talk to a stranger either in real life or online improved their mood in both settings, but even more with IM. And people who talk with their real-life friends online also report feeling closer to them than those who just communicate face-to-face, implying a strengthening of their bond.
Why would digital communication trump human contact? The reasons are complex, but may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may perceive as embarrassing or sources of discomfort. Studies also show that the anonymity( 匿名) of writing on a device blankets the users in a sense of safety that may prompt people to feel more comfortable in sharing and discussing their deepest and most authentic feelings. Prior research has shown that expressive writing itself can "vent" emotions and provide a sense of relief--and doing so knowing that your words are reaching a sympathetic friend may provide even more comfort and potentially be the rapeutic. Researchers also found that introverted participants reported more relief from IM conversations when they were distressed than extraverts ( 內(nèi)向的) did. As Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, wrote recently for TIME: Introverts are often brimming over with thoughts and care deeply for their friends, family and colleagues. But even the most socially skilled introverts sometimes long for a free pass from socializing or talking on the phone. This is what the Internet offers : the chance to connect--but in measured doses and from behind a screen.
61. What is the finding of the new study by British researchers?
A) Instant messaging will hinder children's social and intellectual development.
B) Introverted teens may benefit from constant instant messaging.
C) Two thirds of Amebean teens use instant messaging every day.
D) American teens aged 14 to 18 are extensive instant messaging users.
62. What can be inferred from the results of the study?
A) Teens are more likely to send instant messages when feeling distressed.
B) Instant messaging can help completely remove teens' negative emotions.
C) Chat via instant messaging services makes participants feel good or calm.
D) Constant instant messaging can help teens control their negative emotions.
63. According to the authors of Computers in Human Behavior,
A) talking to strangers on the Internet can improve the mood
B) face-to-face talk can strengthen the bond between friends
C) people often feel closer to real-life friends than to net friends
D) teens feeling bad can benefit from talks via instant messaging
64. What does the digital communication enable users to do?
A) Avoid embarrassment and discomfort.
C) Share and discuss more information.
B) Produce more expressive writings.
D) Find more sympathetic friends.
65. What does Susan Cain say about introverts?
A) They do not reveal their thoughts to friends, family and colleagues.
B) They tend to feel more distressed about IM conversations than extraverts.
C) They are more skillful at the art of socializing than extraverts.
D) They at times desire to socialize or talk via social media.
